SY0-701 Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations Practice Question
This SY0-701 practice question tests your understanding of threats, vulnerabilities, and mitigations. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. A key principle to apply: sQL injection manipulates backend database queries.. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A web login form returns access after a tester enters `' OR '1'='1'--` into the username field. What type of attack is this?
Why wrong: Cross-site scripting runs script code in a user's browser, not SQL logic in a backend query.
B
SQL injection
SQL injection happens when attacker input changes the meaning of a database query. The payload forces the login check to evaluate as true, which can bypass authentication.
C
Session hijacking
Why wrong: Session hijacking steals or reuses an existing session token, rather than altering a database query.
D
Insecure deserialization
Why wrong: Insecure deserialization involves unsafe object handling, not injecting SQL syntax into a form field.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
SQL injection
The input `' OR '1'='1'--` is a classic SQL injection payload that manipulates the SQL query logic. By injecting a single quote to break out of the string context, the `OR '1'='1'` condition makes the WHERE clause always true, and the `--` comments out the rest of the query. This bypasses authentication because the database returns a valid row, granting access without a correct password.
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Cross-site scripting
Why it's wrong here
Cross-site scripting runs script code in a user's browser, not SQL logic in a backend query.
✓
SQL injection
Why this is correct
SQL injection happens when attacker input changes the meaning of a database query. The payload forces the login check to evaluate as true, which can bypass authentication.
Session hijacking steals or reuses an existing session token, rather than altering a database query.
✗
Insecure deserialization
Why it's wrong here
Insecure deserialization involves unsafe object handling, not injecting SQL syntax into a form field.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse SQL injection with cross-site scripting because both involve injecting malicious input, but SQL injection targets the database layer via SQL syntax, while XSS targets the browser via HTML/JavaScript.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, the vulnerable code likely constructs a SQL query like `SELECT * FROM users WHERE username='$username' AND password='$password'`. The injected payload turns it into `SELECT * FROM users WHERE username='' OR '1'='1'--' AND password='...'`, where the `--` comments out the password check. In real-world scenarios, this attack can be mitigated by using parameterized queries (prepared statements) that separate SQL logic from data, or by input validation that rejects single quotes.
A security analyst at a medium-sized enterprise encounters this scenario during an investigation or architecture review. The correct answer reflects best practice for the specific threat or control described. SQL injection manipulates backend database queries. Security exam questions test whether you can match controls to threats in context — not just recall definitions.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this SY0-701 question in full detail.
Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations — This question tests Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Mitigations — SQL injection manipulates backend database queries..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: SQL injection — The input `' OR '1'='1'--` is a classic SQL injection payload that manipulates the SQL query logic. By injecting a single quote to break out of the string context, the `OR '1'='1'` condition makes the WHERE clause always true, and the `--` comments out the rest of the query. This bypasses authentication because the database returns a valid row, granting access without a correct password.
What should I do if I get this SY0-701 question wrong?
Review sQL injection manipulates backend database queries., then practise related SY0-701 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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Question Discussion
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